Tractor



Nov. 29, 1938. J W, THOMPSON 2,138,311

TRACTOR Filed 0m. 26, 1957 5 sheets sheet 1 ,zg d

ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938.

J. w. THOMPSON TRACTOR s Sheets-Shet 2 Filed Oct. '26, 1%?

ATTORNEYS Nov. 29, 1938. J, w. THOMPSON I 2,138,311

ATTORNEYS Patented Nov. 29, 1938 UNlTED STATES PATENT OFFICE 8 Claims.

The invention relates to a tractor and more especially to agricultural implement carrying tractors.

The primary object of the invention is the provision of a tractor of this character, wherein a ground working implement is supported intermediate with respect to the ground wheels of said tractor and is susceptible of adjustment vertically and in a horizontal path thus enabling the ground working implement to be turned without requiring the turning of the tractor so that the soil can be worked back and forth in a substantially straight path throughout a field and in this fashion relieving'the necessity of the id turning of the tractor when reaching the end of furrow, hill orthe like, for example, in plowing the soil.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a tractor of this character, wherein difierent kinds of ground working implements can be associated therewith for activity in agricultural work and said tractor is equipped with a power unit and an associated reversing mechanism so that the tractor can move in reverse directions without necessitating the turning of such tractor when in operation, the said tractor being equipped with steering wheels at both ends thereof and when it is required to be turned, this can be had in minimum area, the tractor in its entirety being of novel construction.

A further object of the invention is the pro vision of a tractor of this character, wherein a ground working implement associated therewith is susceptible of adjustment for reversing the same at the will of the operator of such tractor.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tractor of this character, wherein the traction wheels are arranged in a novel manner so that the said tractor can be turned in the least possible space and also the lateral spread of such tractor changed in conformity with the requirements for so doing.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tractor of this character, which is simple in its construction, compact in the makeup thereof, thoroughly reliable and efficient in operation, susceptible of use with varying types of ground Working implements for agricultural activity, affording a draft medium for varying loads, strong, durable, and inexpensive to manufacture.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the features of construction, combination and arrangement of parts as will be hereinafter more fully described, illustrated in of Figure 2 looking in the direction of the 10 arrows.

Figure 4 is a sectional view on the line 44 of Figure 3 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Similar reference characters indicate corre- I5 spending parts throughout the several views in the drawings.

Referring to the drawings in detail, the tractor constituting the present invention comprises a chassis A involving opposed longitudinally di- 20 rected side sills l0 and II, respectively, which at one end of the chassis are joined with each other, this being brought about by the bend l2 in the sill II and the inwardly directed bight [3 in the sill H! while the opposite end of said chassis is 25:

open. Intermediate of the ends of the chassis A are the straight spaced transversely arranged cross sills l4 and the diagonally disposed spaced cross sills] l5, respectively, these being unitary with the side sills l0 and H effected in any man- 30- ner. Arranged in association with the bend l2 of the sill H is a turning knuckle It for an axle H on which is journaled a traction wheel l8 while disposed at the open end of the chassis A and fitted with the side sills l0 and H thereof is 35,

a differential gearing and axle housing is, the diiferential gearing being not shown, while the axles in association therewith are indicated at 20 and 2|, respectively. The axle 213 has fixed thereto a traction wheel 22 located at the same 40 side of the chassis A as the wheel l8 while the axle 21 has fixed thereto a sprocket pinion 23 over which is trained an endless sprocket chain 24. this being also trained over a sprocket gear 25 adjustably fixed to a wheel axle 26 carrying 45 a traction wheel 21 being also fixed thereto and arranged on the opposite side of the chassis A with respect to the wheels l8 and 22. The axle 26 is slidably fitted in bearings 28 upon the chassis A for lateral adjustment therein. The 50 sprocket gear 25 carries set screws 29 engaging the axle 26 for adjustment with relation to each other and this sprocket gear 25 is loosely confined within a holding yoke 30 carried by the chassis A. The wheel 2'! can be spread by separation a limited distance from the chassis A thereby increasing the spread or traction gauge of the tractor.

Coacting in association with the differential gearing within the housing M are reversing frictional gearing connections 3| and 32, respectively, with a power shaft 33 of a power unit 34, preferably an internal combustion engine, mounted upon the cross sills E5. The connections 32 are reversed through the action of a reversing lever 35 releasably latched at 35 with a keeper rack 31 suitably built on the chassis. Thus the tractor can be driven in reverse directions without necessitating the turning of said tractor. The lever 35 is manually controlled and is in convenient reach of an operators seat 38 on the chassis A, being located midway thereof.

The axles 2i! and 2| haveassociated therewith braking mechanism 39 operative from foot levers 40, these being convenient to an operator when occupying the seat 38- and in this manner through alternate application of the braking mechanism 39 to the respective axles 2| and 20 the tractor in its entirety can be turned in the least possible space.

The knuckle if: has connection with a steering lever ii pivoted at :2 to a bracket 43 on the chassis A, the link connection between-the lever M and the knuckle l6 being indicated at 44 and thus on the .throwing'of the lever ii, the wheel i8 can be turned in the required direction for the steering of the tractor and the turning thereof. This lever 42 is'inconvenient reach of the occupant of the seat 33. Trunnioned for lateral vertical swinging movement in bearings 45 isa saddle '46 in which-is fitted an upstanding stem 41 forming a hanger to which isdetachably connected a carrier head 58 for a ground working implement; This stem is provided with a circular toothed rack 59 meshing with a rack gear 55, its turning arbor being journaled in bearings 52 on the saddle it and is equipped with a handle wheel 53 for manual adjustment ofthe said stem 4'! in the saddle 35 whereby said stem may be raised or lowered for regulating the implement fitted to the carrier 58, in this instance being a moldboard plow 54.

Fixed to and rising from the saddle 46 is a stand 55 provided at its upper end with an annular keeper rack 55 while mounted on the upper end of the stem 41 is a vertically swinging turning lever 51 selectively engageable with the rack 55 and on release of the lever. 5'! from said rack the stem t; can be turned thereby turning the implement 54 without necessitating. the turning of the tractor for such purpose. The lever 51 when engaging the rackBS latches the stem 41 against turning movement.

Fixed to one of the trunnions 58 is a throw lever 59 having a latch 59 engageable with the keeper 5! and this lever 59 when thrown works the saddle 5 to dispose the implement 54- at an angle to the ground surface as may be required.

The sills l4 adjustably support a bed 52 on which are carried the bearings 45 for the trunnions of the saddle Q6 and this bed 62 is laterally shiftable forv changing the position of the implement 5d laterally with respect to the chassis A and such bed is held in adjusted position by removable pins 53 selectively engageable in holes 64 provided in the sills i i and thus such implement 5.5. can be located at the longitudinal center or to either side thereof of the chassis A.

The power shaft 33 carries a power take-off ,pulley 65 for operating machinery or the like when the tractor is at a standstill.

The closed end of the chassis A has a hitch 66 while the housing l9 has a hitch 61, respectively, so that machinery can be attached and placed under draft by the tractor when desired.

The wheel 21 is arranged medially with respect to the wheels l8 and 22, the latter being at one side of the chassis A while the wheel 21 is at the other side, thereof.

The tractor in its construction can be put to many uses and is susceptible of association with different kinds of ground working implements for the draft and operation of the same in agricultural pursuits or for roadwork in scraping or leveling the same.

On vertical adjustment of the implement 54, thedepth ofqgroundlactivity thereof can be regulated or the same can be elevated to an inactive position with relation to said ground.

The tractor is susceptible of wide turning or maybe turned-in'lthe least possible space.-

What is claimed is:

1. A- tractor -of the kind described comprising a chassis, Wheels-fitted with the chassis,- means for transmitting power to certain of the wheels, means for reversing the directionof-travel-of the powered-wheels, means for steering otherof said wheels, a turnable implement carrier intermediate of said chassis, means for turning said carrier, means for raising and lawering the carrier, and means .forlateral-swing of said carrier.

2. A tractorofthe kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted with the chassis, means for transmitting power to certain of the wheels, means: for reversing the-direction of travel of the powered wheels, means for steering otherof said. wheels, a. turnable implement carrier intermediate of said chassis, means-for turning said carrier, meansv for raising and lowering the carrier, means for lateral swingof said carrier, and means for-actuating the latter.

3. Atractor of the kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted with the chassis, means for transmitting power-to .certain of the wheels, means for reversing the direction oftravel of the powered wheels, means for steeringother of said wheels, aturnable implement-carrier intermediate of said chassis, means for turning said carrier, means for raising and lowering the carrier, means for lateral swing. of said carrier, means for actuating the latter, and means forlocking the carrier against. swing and in ver-- tically adjusted positions.

4. A tractor of the kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted withthe chassis, means for transmitting power to certain of the wheels, means for reversingthe direction of travel of. the powered wheels, means for steering other-of said Wheels, a turnable implement carrier intermediate'of said chassis, meansfor turning saidcarrier, means for raisingeandlowering.thecarrier, means for lateral swing of said carrier; means for actuating the latter, means for locking the carrier against swing and invertically adjusted positions, and brake mechanismcoacting with the powered wheels.

-5. Atractor of the kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted with the chassis, means for transmitting power to'certain of the wheels, means for reversing the direction of travelof-qthe powered wheels, meansfor steering other of said wheels, a turnable implement carrier intermediate of said chassis, means :for: turning said carrier, means for raising and lowering thecar- 76:;

rier, means for lateral swing of said carrier, means for actuating the latter, means for looking the carrier against swing and in vertically adjusted positions, brake mechanism coacting with the powered wheels, and means for moving the carrier laterally of said chassis.

6. A tractor of the kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted with the chassis, means for transmitting power to certain of the wheels, means for reversing the direction of travel of the powered wheels, means for steering other of said wheels, a turnable implement carrier intermediate of said chassis, means for turning said carrier, means for raising and lowering the carrier, means for lateral swing of said carrier, means for actuating the latter, means for locking the carrier against swing and in vertically ad justed positions, brake mechanism coacting with the powered wheels, means for moving the carrier laterally of said chassis, and means for adjusting one of the powered wheels in a lateral direction of the chassis relative to the other powered wheel.

7. A tractor of the kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted with the chassis, means for transmitting power to certain of the wheels, means for reversing the direction of travel of the powered wheels, means for steering other of said wheels, a turnable implement carrier intermediate of said chassis, means for turning said carrier, means for raising and lowering the carrier, means for lateral swing of said carrier, means for actuating the latter, means for locking the carrier against swing and in vertically adjusted positions, brake mechanism coacting with the powered wheels, means for moving the carrier laterally of said chassis, means for adjusting one of the powered wheels in a lateral direction of the chassis relative to the other powered wheel, and a differential gearing arranged between the powered wheels.

8. A tractor of the kind described comprising a chassis, wheels fitted with the chassis, means for transmitting power to certain of the wheels, means for reversing the direction of travel of the powered wheels, means for steering other of said wheels, a turnable implement carrier intermediate of said chassis, means for turning said carrier, means for raising and lowering the carrier, means for lateral swing of said carrier, means for actuating the latter, means for locking the carrier against swing and in vertically adjusted positions, brake mechanism coacting with the powered wheels, means for moving the carrier laterally of said chassis, means for adjusting one of the powered wheels in a lateral direction of the chassis relative to the other powered wheel, a differential gearing arranged between the powered wheels, and a power take-off associated with the power means.

JOHN W. THOMPSON. 

